SINGAPORE---ELIODORO "Louie" Polistico saved the Philippines' Bulldogs/Psalms 23 chess team anew by securing a win in a slambang position to help seal a 2-2 draw over Pawnstars that put the team in the top 2 after six rounds in the QCD SG Chess League 2018 at the Aqueen Hotel in Paya Lebar, Singapore late Friday, July 27, 2018, here.

The Cavite pride Polistico, a FIDE trainer and chess instructor here, defeated Kum Hong Koh in their English Opening skirmish in Board 4.

Lincoln "Linky" Yap and International Master (IM) Rico Mascarinas salvaged draws on Boards 2 and 3, respectively.
Yap, the pride of Cebu, halved the point with Alexandru Crivoi in their Italian Game while IM Mascarinas who is also from Cebu, an 8-time World Chess Olympiad member, settled for a truce with Jonathan Koh.

The Filipino blew a chance for a victory as United States chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. failed to cash in on a rook, bishop and pawn against rook, knight and pawn end game due to time pressure and lost to Chor Chusan Tan on Board 1 in their French duel that handed a 2-2 result.

"Though (Almario Marlon) Bernardino Jr. played well but Chor Chusan Tan is a strong player," said Xavier Chua, team captain of the Philippines' Bulldogs/Psalms 23 chess squad.

After six rounds, the Philippines is in second place with 9 match points behind current leader Pawnstars (Singapore) which has 10 match points.

A win is equivalent to two points, a draw is equivalent to one point and a loss is equivalent to zero in the match points system format.